EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 Photos, Final Facts and Figures

(photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
Aircorps Art Dec 2019

Exciting Opportunities in Aviation:...
Exciting Opportunities in Aviation: Join Airlink as a Cleaner 2024

Texas Flying Legend's Spitfire MK959 makes a pass during AirVenture 2016. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
Texas Flying Legend’s Spitfire MK959 makes a pass during AirVenture 2016. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

As many of you will have guessed from watching our Facebook page, most of us here at WarbirdsNews were at Oshkosh for AirVenture 2016. It was an extraordinary year, with some exceptional performances and rare attendees. We got to see the Martin Mars strut her stuff both on and off the water. WWII veterans like Doolittle Raider Col. Dick Cole, Tuskegee Airman Col. George Hardy and several former WASPs, including Dawn Seymour. The Commemorative Air Force brought their full Tora! Tora! Tora! display for a spectacular night show for the very first time. We saw a U-2 Dragon Lady make a flypast. The world famous Royal Canadian Air Force  Snowbirds aerial demonstration team performed each day following their Wednesday arrival. And what’s more, we had an F-4 Phantom II two-ship for probably the last time ever at a major public air show in the USA. We thought you might like a run-down of the numbers from EAA Chairman, Jack Pelton… along with some photography highlights by our chief editor, Richard Mallory Allnutt.

At 99, former WASP Dawn Seymour grins from ear to ear after a flight with Cowden Ward in his P-51D Mustang, Pecos Bill. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
At 99, former WASP Dawn Seymour grins from ear to ear after a flight with Cowden Ward in his P-51D Mustang, Pecos Bill. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

A combat veteran of three separate wars, Tuskegee Airman, Col. George Hardy was in attendance with his host, the CAF Red Tail Squadron. Not only did he fly Mustangs over Europe during WWII, but B-29s during the early days of Korea, and AC-119 gun ships in Viet Nam. His bright spirit and and spryness belie his 91 years, and he is a gentleman in every sense of the word. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
A combat veteran of three separate wars, Tuskegee Airman, Col. George Hardy was in attendance with his host, the CAF Red Tail Squadron. Not only did he fly Mustangs over Europe during WWII, but B-29s during the early days of Korea, and AC-119 gun ships in Viet Nam. His bright spirit and and spryness belie his 91 years, and he is a gentleman in every sense of the word. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

A U-2 Dragon Lady made a brief fly-by at AirVenture 2016. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
A U-2 Dragon Lady made a brief fly-by at AirVenture 2016. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

Comment from EAA Chairman Jack Pelton:

“It was a magical week at Oshkosh this year. You could sense the enthusiasm throughout the grounds no matter where you were. From the aviation anniversaries we celebrated, to the magnificent performances by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, to the airplanes and aviators who were here, there was an energy that reinvigorated everyone involved in aviation. We premiered our annual Founders Innovation prize and celebrated the flight of our 2 millionth Young Eagle with thousands of EAA-member pilots who made that remarkable achievement possible. Our industry partners conducted more than 70 news conferences in Oshkosh, launching countless new products and technologies that benefit the aviation community.”

One of the finest aerial demonstration teams in the world, the RCAF Snowbirds visited AirVenture 2016 for the first time in more than three decades. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
One of the finest aerial demonstration teams in the world, the RCAF Snowbirds visited AirVenture 2016 for the first time in more than three decades. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

One of the Snowbirds' classic synchro-pair head-to-head passes. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
One of the Snowbirds’ classic synchro-pair head-to-head passes. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

Attendance: Approximately 563,000, an increase of nearly one percent over 2015.

Comment from Pelton: “Our attendance was particularly outstanding, since we had some weather challenges mid-week compared to seven perfect days in 2015. Our grounds crew and our volunteers, who number more than 5,000, did a superb job keeping the site ready for visitors and campers who arrived by ground or by air.”

Texas Flying Legends' magnificent B-25J Mitchell. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
Texas Flying Legends’ magnificent B-25J Mitchell. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

Texas Flying Legends formation pass. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
Texas Flying Legends formation pass. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

Total aircraft: More than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin.

The CAF's D-Day lead ship C-47, 'That's All Brother' was on public display. Visitors were able to tour her cabin, and this included Doolittle Raider, Col. Dick Cole, who paid a brief visit. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
The CAF’s D-Day lead ship C-47, ‘That’s All Brother’ was on public display. Visitors were able to tour her cabin, and this included Doolittle Raider, Col. Dick Cole, who paid a brief visit. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

The Commemorative Air Force had a strong presence at Oshkosh. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
The Commemorative Air Force had a strong presence at Oshkosh. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

Total showplanes: 2,855 (up 7 percent over 2015): 1,124 homebuilt aircraft (up 11 percent), 1,032 vintage airplanes (up 7 percent), 371 warbirds (up 6 percent), 135 ultralights and light-sport aircraft, 101 seaplanes, 31 rotorcraft, 41 aerobatic aircraft, and 20 non-categorized aircraft.

The two QF-4 Phantom II's made a formation take off during their farewell flight on Thursday morning. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
The two QF-4 Phantom II’s made a formation take off during their farewell flight on Thursday morning. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

(photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
(photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

The last of the QF-4s will be shot down towards the end of this year. Both of the visitors to Oshkosh were slated to face the final showdown in the coming days. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
The last of the QF-4s will be shot down towards the end of this year. Both of the visitors to Oshkosh were slated to face the final showdown in the coming days. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

Commercial exhibitors: Final total of 891, a 10 percent increase over EAA AirVenture 2015.

Three Douglas Skyraiders attended AirVenture 2016. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
Three Douglas Skyraiders attended AirVenture 2016. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

Forums and Workshops: A total of 1,050 sessions attended by more than 75,000 people.

A pair of Ford Tri-motors made constant flights with paying passengers during AirVenture 2016. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
A pair of Ford Tri-motors made constant flights with paying passengers during AirVenture 2016. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

(photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
(photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

Social Media, Internet and Mobile: More than 35 million people were reached by EAA’s social media channels during AirVenture; EAA AirVenture app had 1.6 million screen views; EAA video clips during the event were viewed 957,000 times; and EAA’s 1,100 photo uploads were viewed more than 7.4 million times.

The Seaplane Base on Lake Winnebago was a hive of activity, and included many rare visitors aside from the Martin Mars, which included this gorgeous little Howard on floats. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
The Seaplane Base on Lake Winnebago was a hive of activity, and included many rare visitors aside from the Martin Mars, which included this gorgeous little Howard on floats. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

Guests registered at International Visitors Tent: A record 2,369 visitors registered from a record-tying 80 nations. Top countries represented: Canada (578 visitors), Australia (340), and Argentina (167). [NOTE: Actual international attendance by country is undoubtedly higher, since these are self-reported figures only.]

The CAF Tora! Tora! Tora! show was a major hit! (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
The CAF Tora! Tora! Tora! show was a major hit! (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

(photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
(photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

(photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
(photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

(photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
(photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

(photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
(photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

Media: 750 media representatives on-site, from six continents.

The EAA's B-17G Aluminum Overcast, just before the big storm on Wednesday. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
The EAA’s B-17G Aluminum Overcast, just before the big storm on Wednesday. (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

What’s ahead for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017 (July 24-30, 2017)?  Comment from Pelton:

q  “The planning for EAA’s 65th annual fly-in convention begins now. There are people already coming forward with ideas that we’ll consider in the coming weeks. Next year, for instance, is the 80th anniversary of the iconic Piper Cub airplane and the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force. We also want to continue to be the place where new aviation technology and innovations are unveiled to the world. Our evening lineups continue to provide attendees with additional reasons to stay throughout the night, and 2017 will be no different as we’ll kick off the week on Monday, July 24, with an evening concert by the Grammy-nominated alt-rock band Barenaked Ladies, presented by Ford Motor Company. Although the lineup of features, attractions and anniversaries is still developing, it will be a collection of aircraft and people unmatched anywhere in the world.”

Nothing compared to the Coulson Aviation's magnificent Martin Mars for shear spectacle though... It was a glorious thing to see in flight... (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
Nothing compared to the Coulson Flying Service’s magnificent Martin Mars for shear spectacle though… It was a glorious thing to see in flight… (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

... during a drop... (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
… during a drop… (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

... taking off... (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
… taking off… (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

... coming in to land on Lake Winnebago... (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
… coming in to land on Lake Winnebago… (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

... about to touch down... (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
… about to touch down… (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

... taxiing ... (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
… taxiing … (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

... or simply at Rest. Thank you Coulson... and thank you Kermit Weeks for footing the fuel bill! (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)
… or simply at Rest. Thank you Coulson… and thank you Kermit Weeks for footing the fuel bill! (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

4 Comments

  1. I heard a brief comment on the Guild Restoration show, while they were at the show taping “look a F-105”.Has a 105 appeared at the show? The plane is near and dear to me as I worked on the flight line at Republic Aviation when the ships were built. We sent them up for their first flights. Doing a pre flight walk around at the end of the runway ,a quick salute to the piolet and off he went. Once he kicked in the afterburner, you could feel your internal organs shudder. After few flights and a Air Force inspection flight, if every thing was Ok, the test piolet would buzz the tower. What a feeling.

Graphic Design, Branding and Aviation Art

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*